Just as pollution was the side effect of the industrial revolution, so are the many security vulnerabilities that come with the increased internet connectivity. Cyber attacks are the exploitation of those vulnerabilities.
Cybersecurity is becoming a day to day struggle for businesses. For the most part, individuals and businesses have found ways to counter cyber attacks using a variety of significant measures and just good old common sense.
Let’s take a look at 9 interesting Stats that my team at Trixter have curated that clearly proves we’re still not ready to fight cyber attacks :
1. In 2013-14 1B Yahoo! user accounts were hacked.
Yahoo said the data from more than 1 billion accounts were compromised in 2013, the largest of a series of thefts that forced Yahoo to cut the price of its assets in a sale to Verizon.
The company said that the stolen information included security questions and backup email addresses, which could make it easier to break into other accounts held by the users.
2. In 2014, 145M eBay user records were hacked.
eBay said that hackers raided its network accessing some 145 million user records in what is poised to go down as one of the biggest data breaches in history. Those records contained passwords as well as email addresses, birth dates, mailing addresses, and other personal information.
3. In the 21st century, the average cost of cybercrime to companies has been $ 1M each.
Overall, the average annual cost to organizations has been ballooning for all types of cyberattacks. For example, a single malware attack in 2018 cost more than $2.6 million, while ransomware costs rose the most between 2017–2018, from $533,000 to $646,000 (a 21% increase).
4. 43% of cybercrimes target small businesses
cyber attacks on small businesses represent the largest share of all the attacks. The disparity highlights a lack of resources and knowledge. So small business owners must learn more and invest in better digital security.
5. 48% of data security breaches are caused by malicious intent actÂ
Threats to information systems come in many flavors, some with malicious intent, others with supernatural powers, or unexpected surprises. Therefore, determining which threats are important can only be done in the context of your organization.
6. 97% of people are unable to identify phishing mailÂ
Cyber Scammers use phishing emails to get consumers to click on links to websites they’ve created solely for the purpose of information theft.
Review your emails carefully and check for typical phishing clues including poor visuals and incorrect grammar, which may indicate that the email was sent by a scammer.
7. 76% of organizations experience phishing attacks
Email is the top cyberattack vector, and today’s cybercriminals are persistently targeting high-value individuals who have privileged access or handle sensitive data within an organization. As these threats grow in scope and sophistication, it is critical that organizations prioritize security awareness training to educate employees about cybersecurity best practices.
8. In 2019, only 26% of SMB’S in United States had cyber insurance
Half of all SMBs in the U.S. experienced a data breach in the past year, and 55 percent experienced a cyberattack. Larger companies are more likely to purchase insurance coverage than smaller organizations, but an appetite for coverage is increasing among SMBs as companies of all sizes become more aware of their exposures. In response, insurers are developing dedicated, affordable cyber insurance products.
9. 55% of people use the same password for all/ majority of service used
The person or group behind the breach(es) has your username, possibly email address and password. Banking on the fact that 55%of the people use the same password at multiple sites, cybercriminals can use this information to login. If available, enable two-factor authentication. Many social media accounts have begun to provide this feature. If it’s available, use it to protect yourself, family and friends.
Cybercrime is for real and it’s important for every business to protect itself against it. You can read our post on top 4 tips to protect yourself against Cybercrime here.
Follow Trixter on LinkedIn for regular cybersecurity-related updates.
